As a result, we have highlighted some of these ‘good news’ stories on the front page, and there are more included in the feature.
The Opposition continues to question the cost of the Government’s NBN project and is threatening to halt NBN Co.’s rollout if elected in September. Their ‘interim’ proposal for an alternative has commentators reeling, particularly as, in an effort to save money, all signs are pointing to political expediency. That is, the NBN has become a political football in the context of an election year, and who really knows what might happen following September 14th.
What is certain, however, is that those many Digital Hubs and Enterprises, and Digital Local Government Services that have been set up under the rubric of the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy Strategy, and in tandem with the rollout of the NBN, are here to stay. And the enthusiasm with which councils and their communities are embracing digital literacy and enterprise is admirable and in general seems to indicate at least some satisfaction with this element of federal policy.
The other preoccupying issue for local government is the elephant that is still sitting in the corner — constitutional recognition. Within a week or so of this paper arriving on your desk, there should be a final report released by the Joint Select Committee as to how and where to proceed from here. We can only hope that the decision reflects some sense, and that the many representations by councils and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) have been listened to and that the sector’s concerns and desires have been heeded.
